A causal model of contraceptive intention and its gender comparison among Taiwanese sexually inexperienced adolescents

Getting Intentional about Intention to Use: A Scoping Review of Person-Centered Measures of Demand

In recent years, there has been much reflection on the measures used to assess and monitor contraceptive programming outcomes. The meaning and measurement of intention‐to‐use (ITU) contraception, however, has had less attention and research despite its widespread inclusion in many major surveys. This paper takes a deeper look at the meaning and measurement of ITU around contraception. We conducted a scoping review guided by the following questions: What is the existing evidence regarding the measurement of ITU contraception? What definitions and measures are used? What do we know about the validity of these measures? We searched databases and found 112 papers to include in our review and combined this with a review of the survey instruments and behavioral theory. Our review found growing evidence around the construct of ITU in family planning programming and research. However there are inconsistencies in how ITU is defined and measured, and this tends not to be informed by advances in behavioral theory and research. Further work is needed to develop and test measures that capture the complexity of intention, examine how intention differently relates to longer‐range goals compared to more immediate implementation, and demonstrate a positive relationship between ITU and contraceptive use.

Gender Differences in Contraceptive Self-Efficacy: A Cross-Sectional Study of South Korean College Students

PURPOSE

Healthy sexuality is an important issue in the transition to adulthood. To maintain healthy sexuality, contraceptive self-efficacy could be the most significant predictor of safe sexuality. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between gender roles and the healthy sexuality of South Korean college students.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study through self-report questionnaires was administered to college students in South Korea. In total, 499 students completed the demographic information questionnaire, the Sexual Attitudes Scale, Sexual Autonomy Scale, and Condom Self-Efficacy Scale.

RESULTS

A multiple regression analysis indicated that the contraceptive self-efficacy of male students was predicted by their junior year and sexual autonomy, while that of the females was predicted by their senior year and sexual autonomy.

CONCLUSION

Sexual education focusing on sexual autonomy should be provided for the safe and healthy sexual expression of college students.

Depression and AIDS Preventive Self-efficacy Among Taiwanese Adolescents

Effectively reducing adolescents' risky sexual behaviors has been an urgent need since the HIV/AIDS infections among young people has been acknowledged as a priority. Self-efficacy has been considered playing an essential role in behavioral changes, and depressed individuals may demonstrate lower self-efficacy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to gain insights into self-reported depression among 16-18 years-old Taiwanese adolescents as well as to explore psychosocial predictors of AIDS preventive self-efficacy. A convenience sample of 734 adolescents from southern Taiwan was recruited, and several reliable and valid questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, odds ratio, independent t-test, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were utilized to analyze data. Results showed that the differences in self-reported depression and in the AIDS preventive self-efficacy varied by gender, substance use, and having sexual experience. Furthermore, depression was a significant predictor of AIDS preventive self-efficacy while controlling the covariates. This study suggests that gender and mental health status such as depression may play significant roles in AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Nurses and health care providers should take the influence of mental health into consideration when designing AIDS preventive interventions for male and female Taiwanese adolescents. The provided information may also enhance psychiatric nurses' capability to provide care and to enhance the prevention of HIV infection for adolescents.

HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Self-Efficacy for Limiting Sexual Risk Behavior and Parental Monitoring

The purpose of this study was to explore HIV/AIDS knowledge, self-efficacy for sexual risk behaviors, and parental monitoring in a sample of 140 7th and 9th grade adolescents studying in an urban high school in the United States. Further, the study examined differences in HIV/AIDS knowledge, self-efficacy and parental monitoring by grade and gender. This study also investigated the effectiveness of an HIV/AIDS peer education program, Teens for AIDS Prevention (TAP), on improving adolescents' HIV/AIDS knowledge. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine effects of the peer education program (TAP) on adolescents' HIV/AIDS knowledge. Pearson-product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationships among the variables. Independent t-tests were used to compare adolescents' HIV/AIDS knowledge, self-efficacy, and parental monitoring scores by grade and gender. Paired t-tests were used to determine differences in pre-intervention and post-intervention HIV/AIDS knowledge. The results showed that HIV/AIDS knowledge improved significantly in both 7th and 9th grade students after the intervention. HIV/AIDS knowledge was associated with self-efficacy; however it was not associated with parental monitoring. There were no significant differences in HIV/AIDS knowledge and self-efficacy by gender. However, there was a significant difference in parental monitoring by gender. Pediatric nurses are well-positioned to develop and implement evidence-based programs for adolescents. It is essential that pediatric nurses, in conjunction with other professionals and parent groups, take the initiative in implementing peer education programs in schools and community centers to promote healthy behaviors among adolescents.